Homelessness is Hawaii’s most vexing social problem, one that will take an unremitting and coordinated effort to manage and, ultimately, to solve.

It will also take an uncommon commitment in resources, which is why it’s frustrating to see the state risk losing its full share of federal aid for the fight.

The failing was evident last week during the 2016 “Point-in-Time” count, which is an annual census of the homeless population. That’s the measure by which the federal government assesses the community’s level of need in addressing its homelessness crisis and awards financial support accordingly.

It appeared that the effort fell well short of the coordination required. Staff from the Institute for Human Services, one of the organizations enlisted in the census campaign as well as other homeless- ness initiatives, estimated the turnout of volunteers to do the work had dropped by two-thirds.

The problem reportedly stemmed from a change in the way the coordinators handled outreach to recruit volunteers, said Kimo Carvalho, director of community relations for IHS.

Evidently there was a communications problem with that approach. The Honolulu Star- Advertiser, pursuing a story about the annual count, reported that at one location 50 volunteers were expected on Jan. 25, the first of two days devoted to the count, but only 17 arrived. The second day that Honolulu location anticipated 20 volunteers but only three showed up.

This must be corrected and the full picture conveyed. Federal authorities need an explanation of Hawaii’s true needs for its homeless population, even if the final tally this year comes in low.

Marc Gannon is chairman of Partners in Care, a coalition working to end homelessness. He stressed that other tools also are used to make the case for funding, and to guide social-service agencies in their work.

But the importance of the Point-in-Time cannot be dismissed. The count is a national census taken each January. The operative question asked by surveyors at homeless encampments was “Where did you sleep this past Sunday, Jan. 24?” — as well as follow-ups about age, race, ethnicity, medical needs and children.

The information positions local agencies in the pursuit of more than $1 billion in federal funds awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. That race is becoming more competitive with each passing year. Hawaii’s problem is stubbornly persistent, and the state can’t afford to lose its share.

Last year, the count, along with other data points, brought in $9.8 million for Honolulu agencies working on homelessness; the rest of the state received $1.8 million. Undercounting could cost Hawaii some of that this year, although the allotment decision also will hinge on data collected throughout the year, reports from social-service agencies and the housing inventory figures.

Social workers worry that the count already is underrepresenting the population, especially in the Windward Oahu and North Shore communities.

The organizations must do better by these communities, and permanent residents of these areas need to step up, as well. City Councilman Ikaika Anderson said his office should have been contacted if help was needed. They should have been, as well as Oahu’s network of neighborhood boards and the full spectrum of community groups.

Gannon said organizers will prepare better next year and praised the volunteers who have become part of the solution.

“We all have the opportunity to work together in a coordinated way,” he said. “We need to rally around effective strategies.”

Mayor Kirk Caldwell this week pointed out that Honolulu, which bears the brunt of the homelessness crisis, is making some progress in outreach and getting some of the chronically homeless rehoused. It’s plain, however, that the battle on this front is far from being won.